Commencing on 2 September 2016, the new flights will operate four times a week direct between Hong Kong and London’s second airport.

The service will complement Cathay’s existing five daily flights to Heathrow Airport, boosting its total Hong Kong-London operations to 39 flights per week. The airline also offers four weekly flights to Manchester.

Cathay will deploy its newest aircraft, the A350-900, on the Gatwick route.

“Cathay Pacific has been flying between London and Hong Kong for 35 years and our commitment to the UK market remains strong,” said the airline’s general manager for Europe, Neil Glenn. “We are delighted to launch a non-stop service from Gatwick to Hong Kong, using our new state-of-the-art A350 aircraft, which will help meet increasing demand for both business and leisure travel between the Asia Pacific region and the UK.

“These additional flights between London and Hong Kong will provide our passengers with greater choice and flexibility and, at the same time, continue to boost Hong Kong’s standing as an international aviation hub.”

Cathay’s new flights will initially depart Hong Kong International Airport every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 0055, arriving at Gatwick at 0710. The return flights will then leave at 1235, arriving back in Hong Kong at 0725 the following morning. The inbound flight will then move to an 1135 departure for the winter 2016-17 schedules.

Cathay will take delivery of its first ever A350 aircraft in February 2016. It plans to configure the new long-haul aircraft with 280 seats – 38 in business class, 28 in premium economy and 214 in economy.